Dogs with OCD becoming better understood

Treating man's best friend for obsessive compulsive disorder is much the same as treating humans with it.

Auckland-based veterinarian and animal behaviour expert Dr Elsa Flint said the symptoms vary between breeds.

"You get dogs who tail chase and spin... You can have some that foot chew. Others will do obsessive compulsive licking, so they lick any surface that they can get near. And they'll just constantly lick throughout the day and never seem to stop."

And others, she said, will ingest things like stones.

"They'll keep trying, constantly, to get to smooth stones... usually pebbles in the garden."

It's not a curable condition, she said, and it's up to owners to manage it the best they can.

"[Dogs] use similar medications to humans, as far as I understand.

"But we don't just use medication, we also use behavioural therapy. And in people, they use cognitive behavioural treatment too."

She said she sees about one to three dogs per year suffering from OCD.

A German Shepherd puppy started showing signs of OCD very early on, at just 4 months old, Flint said.

"And this dog used to tail chase constantly. He would wake up in the morning and just chase his tail. All day. Just couldn't stop.

"So an animal like that, it's really extreme, and of course it must be treated as it just can't go on for years like that."

She said she was unsure whether the disorder was becoming more common among dogs.

"We don't really have the data to look across the country for that. It would be interesting to do a survey of vet clinics to see how many have actually seen this condition."

Flint said that in extreme cases, some dogs ended up being euthanised, which was a shame because there are treatments available to manage the condition.